Trial Outcomes & Findings for The Effect of Electronic Cigarette Liquid Characteristics in Smokers. (NCT NCT03861078)

NCT ID: NCT03861078

Last Updated: 2022-12-23

Results Overview

Change in plasma nicotine concentration. Changes in plasm nicotine concentration during puff bout are considered to be the more relevant and accurate values so analysis and results reporting will focus on change from baseline to immediately following 10-puff bout.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

NA

Target enrollment

22 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Blood will be taken 4 times in each session to examine changes from baseline (approx 70 minutes) to immediately following a ten-puff bout (approx 80 minutes), and immediately before (approx 140 minutes) and after the PRT (approx 180 minutes).

Results posted on

2022-12-23

Participant Flow

Each participant will participate in 5 sessions. Sessions differ by the tobacco product used (see study arms). The sessions are ordered by latin-square; however, session order was NOT expected to change any outcomes and order effects are not relevant to the study. Therefore all outcome data was merged and analyzed only by arm and session without regard to order.

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Cigarette Smokers
Each participant will participate in 5 sessions. During each session, participants will complete a 10-puff, directed product use bout, and then have the option later to puff as little or as much as they like during a 30-minute self administration task. Session 1: Own brand cigarette use Session 2: ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 3: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweetened Session 4: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 5: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweetened Own Brand Cigarette: Effects of own brand cigarette use. ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid
Overall Study
STARTED
22
Overall Study
Session 1: Own Brand Cigarette Use
14
Overall Study
Session 2: ECIG 15 mg Nicotine, Sweetened
14
Overall Study
Session 3: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 15 mg Nicotine, Unsweetened
14
Overall Study
Session 4: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg Nicotine, Sweetened
14
Overall Study
Session 5: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg Nicotine, Unsweetened
14
Overall Study
COMPLETED
14
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
8

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Cigarette Smokers
Each participant will participate in 5 sessions. During each session, participants will complete a 10-puff, directed product use bout, and then have the option later to puff as little or as much as they like during a 30-minute self administration task. Session 1: Own brand cigarette use Session 2: ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 3: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweetened Session 4: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 5: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweetened Own Brand Cigarette: Effects of own brand cigarette use. ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid
Overall Study
COVID-19 shut down
4
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
1
Overall Study
Protocol Violation
2
Overall Study
lack of venous access
1

Baseline Characteristics

The Effect of Electronic Cigarette Liquid Characteristics in Smokers.

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Cigarette Smokers
n=14 Participants
Each participant will participate in 5 sessions. During each session, participants will complete a 10-puff, directed product use bout, and then have the option later to puff as little or as much as they like during a 30-minute self administration task. Session 1: Own brand cigarette use Session 2: ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 3: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweetened Session 4: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 5: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweetened Own Brand Cigarette: Effects of own brand cigarette use. ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid
Age, Continuous
37.07 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.5 • n=99 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
5 Participants
n=99 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
9 Participants
n=99 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
13 Participants
n=99 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
7 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
6 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
1 Participants
n=99 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
n=99 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
14 Participants
n=99 Participants
Cigarettes per day
14.21 Cigarettes per day
STANDARD_DEVIATION 4.4 • n=99 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Blood will be taken 4 times in each session to examine changes from baseline (approx 70 minutes) to immediately following a ten-puff bout (approx 80 minutes), and immediately before (approx 140 minutes) and after the PRT (approx 180 minutes).

Population: One participant had incomplete blood data and was excluded from the analysis.

Change in plasma nicotine concentration. Changes in plasm nicotine concentration during puff bout are considered to be the more relevant and accurate values so analysis and results reporting will focus on change from baseline to immediately following 10-puff bout.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Cigarette Smokers
n=13 Participants
Each participant will participate in 5 sessions. During each session, participants will complete a 10-puff, directed product use bout, and then have the option later to puff as little or as much as they like during a 30-minute self administration task. Session 1: Own brand cigarette use Session 2: ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 3: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweetened Session 4: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 5: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweetened Own Brand Cigarette: Effects of own brand cigarette use. ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid
Plasma Nicotine Concentration
Own Brand
12.32 ng/ml
Standard Deviation 8.3
Plasma Nicotine Concentration
Unsweetened, 0 mg/ml nicotine
-0.22 ng/ml
Standard Deviation 1.0
Plasma Nicotine Concentration
Unsweetened, 15 mg/ml nicotine
7.09 ng/ml
Standard Deviation 8.6
Plasma Nicotine Concentration
Sweetened, 15 mg/ml nicotine
5.85 ng/ml
Standard Deviation 7.0
Plasma Nicotine Concentration
Sweetened, 0 mg/ml nicotine
-0.29 ng/ml
Standard Deviation 1.1

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: This task will begin approximately an hour and ten minutes after the 10-puff directed product use bout.

Population: Cigarette smokers

The progressive ratio task (PRT) is a self-administration task that will take 30-minutes to complete. It will begin by requiring ten computer key presses to earn the first puff of the session product, and this requirement will increase by 30% (i.e., 10, 13, 17, etc.) after each reinforcer (puff) is earned and consumed. The PRT will have three outcome measures (1) breakpoint (maximum number of key presses completed to earn a puff), (2) number of puffs, and (3) latency (sec) to initiate key pressing. Breakpoint is reported here.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Cigarette Smokers
n=14 Participants
Each participant will participate in 5 sessions. During each session, participants will complete a 10-puff, directed product use bout, and then have the option later to puff as little or as much as they like during a 30-minute self administration task. Session 1: Own brand cigarette use Session 2: ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 3: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweetened Session 4: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 5: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweetened Own Brand Cigarette: Effects of own brand cigarette use. ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid
Progressive Ratio Task - Breakpoint
Unsweetened, 0 mg/ml nicotine
416.07 Key presses
Standard Deviation 502.0
Progressive Ratio Task - Breakpoint
Sweetened, 0 mg/ml nicotine
307.29 Key presses
Standard Deviation 415.3
Progressive Ratio Task - Breakpoint
Unsweetened, 15 mg/ml nicotine
336.43 Key presses
Standard Deviation 687.3
Progressive Ratio Task - Breakpoint
Sweetened, 15 mg/ml nicotine
492.86 Key presses
Standard Deviation 811.0
Progressive Ratio Task - Breakpoint
Own brand cigarette
812.86 Key presses
Standard Deviation 1132.3

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: This task will begin approximately an hour and ten minutes after the 10-puff directed product use bout.

Population: Cigarette smokers

The progressive ratio task (PRT) is a self-administration task that will take 30-minutes to complete. It will begin by requiring ten computer key presses to earn the first puff of the session product, and this requirement will increase by 30% (i.e., 10, 13, 17, etc.) after each reinforcer (puff) is earned and consumed. The PRT will have three outcome measures (1) breakpoint (maximum number of key presses completed to earn a puff), (2) number of puffs, and (3) latency (sec) to initiate key pressing. Number of puffs is reported here.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Cigarette Smokers
n=14 Participants
Each participant will participate in 5 sessions. During each session, participants will complete a 10-puff, directed product use bout, and then have the option later to puff as little or as much as they like during a 30-minute self administration task. Session 1: Own brand cigarette use Session 2: ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 3: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweetened Session 4: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 5: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweetened Own Brand Cigarette: Effects of own brand cigarette use. ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid
Progressive Ratio Task - Number of Puffs
Unsweetened, 0 mg/ml nicotine
7.64 Number of puffs
Standard Deviation 4.2
Progressive Ratio Task - Number of Puffs
Sweetened, 0 mg/ml nicotine
6.21 Number of puffs
Standard Deviation 4.7
Progressive Ratio Task - Number of Puffs
Unsweetened, 15 mg/ml nicotine
5.07 Number of puffs
Standard Deviation 5.1
Progressive Ratio Task - Number of Puffs
Sweetened, 15 mg/ml nicotine
7.21 Number of puffs
Standard Deviation 5.0
Progressive Ratio Task - Number of Puffs
Own brand cigarette
9.93 Number of puffs
Standard Deviation 4.1

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: This task will begin approximately an hour and ten minutes after the 10-puff directed product use bout.

Population: Cigarette smokers

The progressive ratio task (PRT) is a self-administration task that will take 30-minutes to complete. It will begin by requiring ten computer key presses to earn the first puff of the session product, and this requirement will increase by 30% (i.e., 10, 13, 17, etc.) after each reinforcer (puff) is earned and consumed. The PRT will have three outcome measures (1) breakpoint (maximum number of key presses completed to earn a puff), (2) number of puffs, and (3) latency (milliseconds) to initiate key pressing. Latency is reported here.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Cigarette Smokers
n=14 Participants
Each participant will participate in 5 sessions. During each session, participants will complete a 10-puff, directed product use bout, and then have the option later to puff as little or as much as they like during a 30-minute self administration task. Session 1: Own brand cigarette use Session 2: ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 3: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweetened Session 4: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 5: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweetened Own Brand Cigarette: Effects of own brand cigarette use. ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid
Progressive Ratio Task - Latency
Unsweetened, 0 mg/ml nicotine
161176.93 milliseconds
Standard Deviation 473649.1
Progressive Ratio Task - Latency
Sweetened, 0 mg/ml nicotine
390300.43 milliseconds
Standard Deviation 764004.4
Progressive Ratio Task - Latency
Unsweetened, 15 mg/ml nicotine
315803.79 milliseconds
Standard Deviation 636134.5
Progressive Ratio Task - Latency
Sweetened, 15 mg/ml nicotine
263130.86 milliseconds
Standard Deviation 651141.0
Progressive Ratio Task - Latency
Own brand cigarette
6500.64 milliseconds
Standard Deviation 6972.8

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Puff volume will be measured during the approximately 5-minute, 10-puff use bout.

Population: Cigarette smokers

The volume of each puff, in ml, averaged over the 10-puff use bout

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Cigarette Smokers
n=14 Participants
Each participant will participate in 5 sessions. During each session, participants will complete a 10-puff, directed product use bout, and then have the option later to puff as little or as much as they like during a 30-minute self administration task. Session 1: Own brand cigarette use Session 2: ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 3: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweetened Session 4: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 5: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweetened Own Brand Cigarette: Effects of own brand cigarette use. ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid
Puff Volume
Unsweetened, 0 mg/ml nicotine
207.17 ml
Standard Deviation 124.5
Puff Volume
Sweetened, 0 mg/ml nicotine
233.47 ml
Standard Deviation 157.7
Puff Volume
Unsweetened, 15 mg/ml nicotine
130.57 ml
Standard Deviation 110.4
Puff Volume
Sweetened, 15 mg/ml nicotine
166.51 ml
Standard Deviation 141.0
Puff Volume
Own brand cigarette
65.12 ml
Standard Deviation 48.3

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: The duration of each puff will be measured during the approximately 5-minute, 10-puff use bout.

Population: Cigarette smokers

The duration of each puff, in seconds, averaged over the 10-puff use bout

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Cigarette Smokers
n=14 Participants
Each participant will participate in 5 sessions. During each session, participants will complete a 10-puff, directed product use bout, and then have the option later to puff as little or as much as they like during a 30-minute self administration task. Session 1: Own brand cigarette use Session 2: ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 3: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweetened Session 4: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened Session 5: ECIG Lab Session ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweetened Own Brand Cigarette: Effects of own brand cigarette use. ECIG 15 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 15 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 15 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, sweetened: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, sweetened liquid ECIG 0 mg nicotine, unsweet: Effects of using a 30 Watt ECIG filled with 0 mg nicotine, unsweet liquid
Puff Duration
Unsweetened, 0 mg/ml nicotine
2.54 seconds
Standard Deviation 1.8
Puff Duration
Sweetened, 0 mg/ml nicotine
2.74 seconds
Standard Deviation 1.5
Puff Duration
Unsweetened, 15 mg/ml nicotine
1.60 seconds
Standard Deviation 0.7
Puff Duration
Sweetened, 15 mg/ml nicotine
1.94 seconds
Standard Deviation 1.4
Puff Duration
Own brand cigarette
2.06 seconds
Standard Deviation 1.3

OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome

Timeframe: This questionnaire will be administered 4 times in each session to examine changes from baseline (70 minutes) to immediately following a ten-puff bout (80 minutes), and immediately before (140 minutes) and after the PRT (180 minutes)

This scale will be used to assess the extent to which product use reduces tobacco abstinence symptoms, and consists of 11 items scored 0-100, with lower scores indicating less severe symptoms. There are no sub-scales. Items are analyzed separately.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome

Timeframe: This questionnaire will be administered 4 times in each session to examine changes from baseline (70 minutes) to immediately following a ten-puff bout (80 minutes), and immediately before (140 minutes) and after the PRT (180 minutes)

This scale will be used to measure positive and negative affect and consists of 20-items that are scored on a 5-point likert scale ranging from "very slightly or not at all" to "extremely". The items from this scale are scored into two dimensions: Positive Affect and Negative Affect.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome

Timeframe: This questionnaire will be administered 4 times in each session to examine changes from baseline (70 minutes) to immediately following a ten-puff bout (80 minutes), and immediately before (140 minutes) and after the PRT (180 minutes)

This questionnaire assess a respondent's feelings after recently using tobacco or nicotine products. It has a total of five items that participants rate from not at all to extremely scored 0-100. Each item is scored and analyzed separately (there are no sub-scales).

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome

Timeframe: Heart rate will be measured continuously throughout the session, and will be used to examine changes in HR from baseline (70 minutes) to during (75 minutes) and immediately following a ten-puff bout (80 minutes)

Change in heart rate, measure in beats per minute.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome

Timeframe: Inter puff interval will be measured during the approximately 5-minute, 10-puff use bout.

The time between each puff, in seconds.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

OTHER_PRE_SPECIFIED outcome

Timeframe: Flow rate will be measured during the approximately 5-minute, 10-puff use bout.

The rate of air flow during each puff, in ml/second.

Outcome measures

Outcome data not reported

Adverse Events

Cigarette Smokers

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

ECIG 15 mg Nicotine, Sweetened

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

ECIG 15 mg Nicotine, Unsweet

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

ECIG 0 mg Nicotine, Sweetened

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

ECIG 0 mg Nicotine, Unsweet

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 0 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Other adverse events

Adverse event data not reported

Additional Information

Alison Breland

Virginia Commonwealth University

Phone: 804 628 2300

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place